On Friday, 412 Food Rescue ran out of food after serving 3,000 lunches to Pittsburgh students at bus stops.
That same day, The Hillman Foundation announced more than $4 million in emergency response grants in response to the coronavirus pandemic — with $350,000 awarded to 412 Food Rescue to continue their bus stop lunch drive and to launch home delivery of food as well.
412 Food Rescue had been considering the idea of home delivery but lacked the funds and technology to make it happen. “Suddenly the need is there as so many people are isolated and nobody can reach them,” says Leah Lizarondo, co-founder of 412 Food Rescue. With the Hillman grant, they are able to forge ahead, she adds. It launches next week.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it wreaked immediate havoc on the community and drew an immediate response from the community as well.
“Our Board convened right away wanting to offer what we could to assist with the immediate medical, health, safety and human services needs in the community,” said David K. Roger, President of Hillman Family Foundations, of which the Henry L. Hillman Foundation is the largest. “We can’t say enough to thank the Allegheny County Executive, Departments of Health and Human Services, our hospital systems, the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and nonprofit organization partners who have been working 24/7 to respond to COVID-19.”
The largest and first contribution was to The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Emergency Action Fund which NEXTpittsburgh wrote about here.
Other grants include:
- $350,000 to Allegheny County for immediate needs
- $335,000 to United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to bolster 2-1-1 and the Emergency Basic Needs Fund
- $350,000 to 412 Food Rescue for equipment and technology to expand home delivery and other types of needed food transport
- $250,000 to Community Human Services to expand basic needs and housing support and assistance for low-income, seniors, children and other vulnerable individuals
- $50,000 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh to expand basic needs support
- $50,000 to JFCS Pittsburgh (Jewish Family and Community Services) to expand basic needs support
- $115,000 to the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research
- $250,000 to Global Links to coordinate personal protective equipment (PPE) supply/distribution and other equipment needs for frontline nonprofit responders
- $100,000 to New Sun Rising for its Rapid Response Fund
- $100,000 to the Hebrew Free Loan Association for its emergency small loan fund
- $250,000 to Bridgeway Capital for its emergency fund to provide gap credit to small businesses and nonprofit organizations
- $250,000 to the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for loans and other support to small businesses and nonprofits
In addition, the foundation commissioned, with partner foundations, research to help identify additional areas of need and guide future efforts to support the region’s low-income workers.